Fai lived his way, died and was buried his way

It was a funeral service like no other. Business in Naivasha was brought to a standstill on Saturday as the convoy of more than 20 vehicles, among them one bearing the remains of the flamboyant businessman Fai Omar Amario snaked through the town.

The drama that characterised the man’s life was replayed in his death. He did not go silently.

Hooting motorcycles led the convoy as the siren on the hearse blared. Amario is credited with starting the motorcycle business in Naivasha.

Branching off the main Naivasha-Maai Mahiu highway, the vehicles joined the busy Kenyatta Avenue before making a turn to the Biashara Road and rejoining the highway.

From the rooftops

The town’s streets, residents watched from the rooftops and the streets. Some who were not aware of what was happening mistook the convoy for a wedding party.

Mourners started trooping to Fai’s Den on the Naivasha-Maai Mahiu highway, where the funeral service was held, in the morning to see off Naivasha’s arguably most controversial public figure, who died last Tuesday at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi of a liver illness.

Everything was arranged meticulously, in line with the wishes of the maverick.

As the hearse came to a stop, the metallic, gold-coated casket was placed on a catafalque. His favourite song, My Way by Frank Sinatra, rent the air through speakers at the venue.

“I planned each charted course, each careful step along the by way. But more, much more than this, I did it my way,” Sinatra sang.

Amario had asked one of his sons to ensure the song was played at his funeral.

True to the words of Sinatra’s song, Fai Omar Amario, born Peter Gilbert Nga’ng’a, lived his life his way.

One of his daughters read the eulogy, detailing his life story which began on April 10, 1954. He controversially changed his name to Fai Amario.

In jail

The businessman-cum-politician is remembered for his liquor business. But he had also a brush with the law, ending up in jail for handling stolen property.

Bishop Joseph Wambugu of the Bread of Newlife Ministries, a friend of the deceased, delivered the sermon and was full of praise for Amario.

“We might have differed on matters of principle, but we remained great friends,” he told the mourners.

The cleric recalled a conversation with Amario over their different ways of life.

“He told me ‘Bishop, you make your money through the church ministry, but I mint my cash by selling liquor,’” the bishop told the mourners causing laughter.

Bishop Wambugu described Amario as a brilliant personality who never shied away from challenges.

Family members spoke softly to one another and emotions were bottled up.

But chaos almost broke out as the procession headed for the burial grounds in what was supposed to be a family-only affair. The surging crowd forced its way in.

At 2.15 p.m., Amario’s remains were laid to rest.

And the song My Way was replayed.